Non-Ergot Dopamine Agonists and the Risk of Heart Failure and Other Adverse Cardiovascular Reactions in Parkinson's Disease.

Reports suggest possible risks of adverse cardiovascular reactions, including heart failure, associated with non-ergot dopamine agonist (DA) use in Parkinson's disease (PD). The objectives of our review were to evaluate the risk of heart failure and other adverse cardiovascular reactions in PD patients who received a non-ergot DA compared with other anti-PD pharmacological interventions, placebo, or no intervention. Studies were identified via searches of six bibliographic databases.

Diagnosis of manganism and manganese neurotoxicity: A workshop report.

With declining exposures to manganese (Mn) in occupational settings, there is a need for more sensitive exposure assessments and clinical diagnostic criteria for manganism and Mn neurotoxicity. To address this issue, a workshop was held on November 12-13, 2020, with international experts on Mn toxicity. The workshop discussions focused on the history of the diagnostic criteria for manganism, including those developed by the Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST) in Quebec in 2005 and criteria developed by the Chinese government in 2002 and updated in 2006; the utility of biomarkers of exposure; recent developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing Mn accumulation in the brain and diagnosing manganism; and potential future applications of metabolomics.

Effect of TCDD exposure in adult female and male mice on the expression of miRNA in the ovaries and testes and associated reproductive functions.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is an environmental contaminant found widely across the world. While animal and human studies have shown that exposure to TCDD may cause significant alterations in the reproductive tract, the effect of TCDD on the expression of miRNA in the reproductive organs has not been previously tested. In the current study, we exposed adult female or male mice to TCDD or vehicle and bred them to study the impact on reproduction.

Dipping Your Toes in the Water: An Experiential Strategy to Recruit and Engage New Faculty in Interprofessional Education.

Aims: Engaged and trained faculty to support and role-model interprofessional education (IPE)-related concepts and behaviors are vital in the development, implementation, and sustainability of IPE academic teaching and training programs. Thus, recruitment of engaged faculty is essential for effective IPE expansion, scalability innovation, and sustainability across a variety of schools, programs, and students. The primary aim of this descriptive study was to implement a strategy to recruit and engage new IPE faculty and determine the strategy's effectiveness in increasing faculty's intent to participate in future IPE.

Myocarditis and Pericarditis Post-mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination: Insights from a Pharmacovigilance Perspective.

Concerns remain regarding the rare cardiovascular adverse events, myocarditis and pericarditis (myo/pericarditis), particularly in younger individuals following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Our study aimed to comprehensively assess potential safety signals related to these cardiac events following the primary and booster doses, with a specific focus on younger populations, including children as young as 6 months of age. Using the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), the United States national passive surveillance system, we conducted a retrospective pharmacovigilance study analyzing spontaneous reports of myo/pericarditis.

Risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in mRNA COVID-19-vaccinated and unvaccinated populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To summarise the available evidence on the risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, compared with the risk among unvaccinated individuals in the absence of COVID-19 infection.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science and WHO Global Literature on Coronavirus Disease), preprint repositories (medRxiv and bioRxiv), reference lists and grey literature were searched from 1 December 2020 until 31 October 2022.

Concomitant use of statins and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and the risk of myotoxicity reporting: A disproportionality analysis.

Aims: Recent case reports have suggested that sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors may interact with statins to increase their risk of myotoxicity. We assessed the risk of myotoxicity reporting associated with concomitant use of SGLT2 inhibitors and statins.

Methods: We queried the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from 2013 to 2021 for reports including SGLT2 inhibitors, statins or both.

Biomarkers for occupational manganese exposure.

Long-term inhalation exposure to manganese (Mn) metal or its inorganic compounds can result in manganism or subclinical neurofunctional deficits. Studies have described affected workers in Mn dioxide mining, Mn-containing ore crushing and milling facilities, manufacturing of dry-cell batteries, Mn steel and alloy production plants, and in welders. The objective of this study was to critically review existing evidence on the reliability of potential biomarkers of Mn exposure, specifically the relationship between inhalation exposure to Mn particulates in different occupational settings and Mn concentrations in blood and other biological fluids and tissues, with a particular focus on whole blood as a potentially useful medium for measuring internal tissue dose.

Association of Chlorhexidine Use and Scaling and Root Planing With Birth Outcomes in Pregnant Individuals With Periodontitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Chlorhexidine mouthwash enhances treatment effects of conventional periodontal treatment, but data on chlorhexidine as a source of heterogeneity in meta-analyses assessing the treatment of maternal periodontitis in association with birth outcomes are lacking.

Objective: To assess possible heterogeneity by chlorhexidine use in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of periodontal treatment (ie, scaling and root planing [SRP]) vs no treatment on birth outcomes.

Data Sources: Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register, Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE Ovid, Embase Ovid, LILACS BIREME Virtual Health Library (Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database), US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register (ClinicalTrials.

Magnetic resonance imaging T1 indices of the brain as biomarkers of inhaled manganese exposure.

Excessive exposure to manganese (Mn) is linked to its accumulation in the brain and adverse neurological effects. Paramagnetic properties of Mn allow the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to identify it in biological tissues. A critical review was conducted to evaluate whether MRI techniques could be used as a diagnostic tool to detect brain Mn accumulation as a quantitative biomarker of inhaled exposure.

Disproportionality analysis of adverse neurological and psychiatric reactions with the ChAdOx1 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) and BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccines in the United Kingdom.

Background: Information on neurological and psychiatric adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) with COVID-19 vaccines is limited.

Research Design & Methods: We examined and compared neurological and psychiatric AEFIS reports related to BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and ChAdOx1 (Oxford-AstraZeneca) COVID-19 vaccines and recorded in the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency between 9 December 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Results: As of 30 June 2021, 46.

Biomarkers of environmental manganese exposure.

We conducted a critical review on biomarkers of environmental manganese (Mn) exposure to answer the following questions: 1) are there reliable biomarkers of internal Mn exposure (Mn in biological matrices) associated with external metrics of Mn exposure (Mn in environmental media)? and 2) are there accurate reference values (RVs) for Mn in biological matrices? Three bibliographic databases were searched for relevant references and identified references were screened by two independent reviewers. Of the 6342 unique references identified, 86 articles were retained for data abstraction. Our analysis of currently available evidence suggests that Mn levels in blood and urine are not useful biomarkers of Mn exposure in non-occupational settings.

Risk of Myocarditis and Pericarditis among Young Adults following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccinations.

There have been reports of cases of myocarditis and pericarditis as rare complications following mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations among young adults. While most reported cases are mild, this potential vaccine safety signal should be closely monitored. Using data from the CDC and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), we calculated the combined reporting rate of myocarditis and pericarditis stratified by age group, sex, vaccine dose, and manufacturer, and compared these rates to the crude background incidence rates.

The use of categorical regression in the assessment of the risks of nutrient deficiency and excess.

Exposure-response assessment methods have shifted towards more quantitative approaches, with health risk assessors exploring more statistically driven techniques. These assessments, however, usually rely on one critical health effect from a single key study. Categorical regression addresses this limitation by incorporating data from all relevant studies – including human, animal, and mechanistic studies – thereby including a broad spectrum of health endpoints and exposure levels for exposure-response analysis in an objective manner.

Systemic quinolones and risk of retinal detachment III: a nested case-control study using a US electronic health records database.

Background: Quinolones are popular antibiotics that are known for their potency, broad coverage, and reasonable safety. Concerns have been raised about a possible association between quinolones and retinal detachment (RD).

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study using electronic health records (EHR) from the Health Facts® Database.

Association of treatments for acute appendicitis with pregnancy outcomes in the United States from 2000 to 2016: Results from a multi-level analysis.

Background: Open appendectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy, and non-surgical treatment are three options to treat acute appendicitis during pregnancy. Previous studies on the association of different treatment methods for acute appendicitis with pregnancy outcomes have been limited by small sample sizes and residual confounding, especially with respect to hospital-level factors. This study aimed to investigate the association of treatment method for acute appendicitis with pregnancy outcomes using a multi-level analysis.

Systemic quinolones and risk of retinal detachment I: analysis of data from the US FDA adverse event reporting system.

Background: Quinolones comprise a class of antibiotics that are globally preferred for treating a wide range of bacterial infections due to their potency, broad coverage, favorable pharmacologic profile, and mostly mild to moderate adverse reactions. Spontaneous reports on adverse drug events (ADE) and data from some pharmacoepidemiologic studies have raised concerns regarding quinolones and risk of retinal detachment (RD). This study examined ADE reports submitted to FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) for evidence on quinolone-associated RD risk.

Concomitant Ceftriaxone and Intravenous Calcium Therapy in Infants.

Objective: To determine if increased mortality could be detected with the administration of ceftriaxone and IV calcium in infants through an analysis of a large repository of electronic health records.

Methods: Patients were split into 3 groups: 1) neonates, 2) infants, and 3) infants <1 year whose age was not specified. Deaths were classified into mutually exclusive categories based on the administration and timing of ceftriaxone and IV calcium.

Compounded bioidentical hormone products, a path forward.

Objective: To describe the widespread use of compounded bioidentical hormone therapies (cBHT). To define the term clinical utility and present why there is insufficient evidence to support the overall clinical utility of cBHT products. To recommend actions that pharmacists and regulators can take to promote safer cBHT use.

Systemic quinolones and risk of acute liver failure I: Analysis of data from the US FDA adverse event reporting system.

Background And Aim: Quinolones are a potent and globally popular group of antibiotics that are used to treat a wide range of infections. Some case reports have raised concern about their possible association with acute hepatic failure (AHF). Data from the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System were evaluated for signals of AHF in association with systemically administered quinolone antibiotics.

A Framework and Recommendations to Recruit and Engage Faculty Facilitators for Large-Scale IPE Events.

Aims: As integration of interprofessional education (IPE) events gains traction in health sciences, there is an increased need to recruit and train faculty to facilitate student groups from multiple health care disciplines. This report describes a framework used to effectively recruit and prepare faculty as facilitators for a large-scale, one-time IPE event. We detail recruitment strategies, training tools, facilitators' perceptions about the training, and recommendations for future training.

Systemic quinolones and risk of acute liver failure III: A nested case-control study using a US electronic health records database.

Background And Aim: Quinolones are globally popular antibiotics with proven potency, broad coverage, and reasonable safety. However, some concerns were raised as to their possible association with acute liver failure (ALF). The aim of this study is to assess ALF risk within 30 days of receiving a systemically administered quinolone antibiotic, in individuals with no history of liver/diseases.